Interviews for first-time applicants for passports have been suspended in London as staff struggle to deal with the 30,000 backlog of applications, the Home Office has said.

First-time adult applicants who have booked interviews at HM Passport Office's Globe House in Victoria are being directed to other offices in South East England so staff can concentrate on fast-track renewals.

Interviews for first-time applicants for passports have apparently been suspended in London. Credit: PA

A Home Office spokeswoman said it was normal practice during busy times and that only a "handful" of people had been affected.

"It is standard practice. It is nothing out of the ordinary. It happened last year," she said.

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Overseas passport applicants will be offered a 12 month extension while travelers with an urgent need to go abroad will have their passport applications fast-tracked free of charge, the Home Secretary Theresa May has said.In a statement to the House of Commons, she announced:

People with an urgent need to travel abroad will have their passport applications fast-tracked free of charge

Overseas applicants would also be offered a 12 month extension

Two reviews - the first to ensure the passport office is working efficiently as possible, while the second will consider whether HMPO's agency status should be removed

Home Secretary Theresa May has responded to an urgent question from Labour in the House of Commons by saying there was no "big bang" solution to tackle delays in issuing passports. She said the government would take a "series of measures to address pinch points".

Labour has secured a debate on the Passport Office in the Commons at 10.30 this morning, after Speaker John Bercow granted an urgent question to the Home Office from shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

Labour secures urgent Commons question on passports Credit: PA

The briefing note, posted on The Guardian website, allows staff to drop checks on counter-signatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the briefing showed the Government was in denial about the state of the crisis.

"This is seriously chaotic," she told The Guardian.

"If this is what the Prime Minister meant by getting a grip with the situation, he needs to think again."

The Government is facing fresh embarrassment over the passports backlog as a leaked briefing note shows HM Passport Office staff in Liverpool, Durham and Belfast were told to ease some checks in an attempt to speed up turnaround times.

Ministers have stepped in to prevent officials relaxing checks on overseas applicants for British passports. Credit: PA

The document, which was leaked to The Guardian, allows staff to relax checks on overseas applicants for British passports as they attempt to deal with a backlog of at least 30,000 applications.

It advises dropping checks on counter-signatories, as well as requirements for evidence of addresses and letters of confirmation from employers and accountants.

"The changes are focused on achieving the right balance between customer service, public protection and organisational requirements," it said.

"These changes are being published now in light of the need to speed up turnaround times."

But the Home Office said that ministers had not been informed of the note and had demanded that it should be rescinded.

"Ministers were unaware of this document and have instructed HM Passport Office to withdraw it immediately," a spokesman said.

A union at the heart of a row over passport service staffing levels has suggested strikes may take place if the government does not review its "job cuts programme" - a move which could prompt further delays.

Paul O'Connor from the Public and Commercial Services Union said "all our industrial options" would be considered if discussions with the government did not come to a satisfactory conclusion to ease the current "crisis".